For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
—2 Corinthians 5:1-10

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A Tent for Now, A Home to Come
By Jennifer Kane

This life is a campsite,
a temporary shelter,
staked into shifting ground.
The fabric stretches in the wind,
thin against the weight of storms.
The nights are cold,
the fire burns low,
but I press on—
because this is not home.

I was not made for canvas walls,
for wooden poles that splinter and break.
I was not meant to wander forever,
to pitch and pack, to build and tear down.
There is a house waiting,
not built by human hands,
not bound by time or decay.

I walk by faith, not by sight,
each step pulling me closer,
each trial a whisper—
“Hold on a little longer.”
One day, I will fold this tent for the last time.
One day, I will wake to a home
where the walls will never fall,
where the light never fades,
where I was always meant to be.

~~~~~

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Our earthly lives are temporary, but our eternal home with God is secure. Paul compares our bodies to a “tent”—fragile and fleeting—yet assures us that God has prepared an eternal dwelling for us in heaven.

Though we groan under life’s struggles, this longing is not despair but hope. One day, mortality will be swallowed up by life, and we will be clothed in heavenly bodies, free from pain and decay. Until then, God has given us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of His promise, calling us to walk by faith, not by sight.

Knowing we will stand before Christ, let us live to please Him. Our time on earth is short, and our lives should reflect our eternal purpose. We are His ambassadors, entrusted with the message of hope—who in your life needs to hear it?

Heavenly Father, thank You for the hope of eternity. Help me walk by faith, live to please You, and share Your love with others. Amen.

February 6 2025